'Larger than life' pilot dies
19.05.08
A ‘larger than life’ pilot who was instrumental in the development of Norwich Airport has died aged 84 after a short illness, the Evening News reports. Angus Mackay, a former RAF pilot and one-time chairman of Hellesdon Parish Council, combined his love of flying with his love of politics and used them to the benefit of the city in developing its airport.
As chairman of Norwich Airport Committee and through his seat representing Hellesdon, his adopted home, on Norfolk County Council from 1974-84, he helped to turn the airport from a small provincial concern into a thriving commercial hub.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Mr Mackay joined the RAF during the second world war at the age of 17. By the age of 20 and after completing his flying training in Canada he was flying operational sorties over Germany in aircraft such as the Hawker Typhoon and Tempest. Post war, in 1947, he crash-landed in the then Russian Zone of East Germany and was lucky to survive.
Known to his friends and air force colleagues as ‘Mac’, he stayed in the air force after the war, and was stationed at RAF Horsham St Faith, which eventually became Norwich Airport, flying the RAF's first jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor. It was while in Norwich that his met his wife Myra. He subsequently left the air force and set up the Bethel Press, in Bethel Street.
Through his business he was well known in the city, printing stationery for many of Norwich's doctors and lawyers, as well as the city's shoe and handbag manufacturers. For 50 years the couple lived in Heath Crescent, Hellesdon, but when Mrs Mackay died in 2000, Mr Mackay moved to live above his business in the city centre, where he continued to work until the age of 80.
Mr Mackay is survived by his daughter Elizabeth and son Stuart, who said: ‘He wanted to really put Norwich on the map and he saw the only way it could grow as a regional centre was to have air links with the rest of Europe and even further afield. Up until the age of 82 he was still very active. I remember him at New Year's Eve a couple of years ago dressed in a kilt and still doing handstands. He had a tremendous charisma about him.’
Mr Mackay was also chairman of the Hellesdon branch of the Conservative Party, chairman of the Norwich and District Aircrew Association and as a welfare officer for the RAF Association he helped to look after many former RAF personnel who had fallen on hard times. He had been in hospital for 3 weeks following a stroke, and died on Sunday from pneumonia.
The funeral will be held at St Peter's Church in Palgrave, near Diss, on Friday, May 23, at 13:00. Mr Mackay's family would prefer family flowers only, but donations in lieu of flowers would be welcome and will be given to an air force charity. The funeral arrangements are being handled by Rackham's Funeral Service on 01379 642 321.
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